Dolphins trade for Chiefs running back before trade deadline

DeAndre Washington is now a Miami Dolphin

The 2020 NFL Trade Deadline largely came and went without much activity, ad many of the expected bombshell trades fizzled out. At the eleventh hour, however, the Miami Dolphins struck a deal with the Kansas City Chiefs that will bring running back DeAndre Washington to South Beach.

The Dolphins acquired Washington and a seventh-round pick from the Chiefs. In exchange, Kansas City will get back a sixth-round pick in 2021. Washington was already struggling to get on the field, and Le’Veon Bell leaving the Jets for Kansas City has reduced his chances of getting playing time even further.

DeAndre Washington will give Miami more depth in the backfield

Washington has seen little playing time behind standout rookie, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Darrel Williams, and 2019 sixth-rounder Darwin Thompson this season, getting just three carries for five yards. The arrival of Bell sealed his fate and forced him out of Kansas City. Washington, who was a teammate of Patrick Mahomes at Texas Tech, totaled 1,742 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns in four seasons with the Oakland Raiders before moving to Kansas City.

Washington might find playing time next to Tua Tagovailoa hard to come by. Myles Gaskin has established himself as the starter, with Matt Breida serving as the backup and Jordan Howard the short-yardage option. With wide receiver/running back hybrid rookies Lynn Bowden and Malcolm Perry also expected to see some time near the end of this season, Washington will likely remain an experienced insurance policy for Brian Flores.

An MCL injury to Gaskin could keep him out for several weeks, so Washington might actually see some time.

Trading for a backup running back might not seem like earth-shattering news, but you can never have enough experienced NFL talent in the backfield when starting a rookie quarterback as they try to make one last push for the postseason.